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Minnesota lawmaker outlines 'Shield Act' to fund layered school safety systems statewide
Summary
Rep. Elliot Engen presented the Shield Act, a proposal to create a grant program to install layered safety systems in Minnesota schools; presenters described Lakeville's system and said the bill pairs physical measures with behavioral threat assessment and mental‑health supports. No formal vote was taken at the session.
Rep. Elliot Engen (R‑District 36A) presented the Shield Act during a Minnesota legislative hearing, proposing a state grant program to install layered physical and communication systems in K‑12 buildings and pair those systems with behavioral threat assessment and mental‑health support.
Engen said the measure is intended as a bipartisan, non‑ideological approach to school safety. “I think right now we're dealing with an issue that seems to be politicized right away,” Engen said. “This bill is not about a gun debate.” He described working with school and public‑safety partners to model the proposal on systems used in Lakeville.
Jason Winski, a 29‑year police officer who previously served as a school resource officer in Lakeville, described the technical and operational approach behind the systems the bill would fund. “We focus on cover, concealment, and communication throughout the…
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